FC Barcelona has not won an international title for nine years. Before the second leg against Paris St. Germain on Tuesday evening (9 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de), the focus is on Ilkay Gündogan as the reigning champion and Marc-André ter Stegen.
It was June 6, 2015, when Barca scored a 3-1 win over Juventus in the final in Berlin thanks to goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar against a goal from Alvaro Morata. Marc-André ter Stegen, who was born in Mönchengladbach, was in the Barca goal, just like he is now, and Luis Enrique was on the sidelines coaching the Catalans to their last triumph outside of Spanish borders to date.
Ticker: Barcelona vs. Paris arrow right quarterfinals arrow right
Luis Enrique now on the other side
Luis Enrique, of all people, is trying to prevent this series, which is almost embarrassing for the world club, from breaking in 2024. He is now training the ensemble from Paris, which is much more in need of catching up in the area of premier class successes: PSG does not yet have a victory in the Champions League or the previous competition (“National Champions Cup”) in the club’s chronicle, including the Europa League or the former UEFA Cup has never been enough.
In 1995/96, Paris won the long-abolished “Cup Winners’ Cup”, and since then billions have been invested to finally collect more than the domestic championship and the domestic cup.
“Put the ghosts aside”
It is unlikely that anything will happen for PSG this year after the 2-3 home defeat a week ago; the clear favorite to take part in the semi-finals is now Barcelona. Ter Stegen says with a brief look at the past decade: “We have to put the ghosts aside.”
In addition to ter Stegen and coach The captain of the German national team is – at least – the reigning title holder for the next six weeks; he won the Champions League final in Istanbul 1-0 against Inter Milan on June 10, 2023.
How liberated since the farewell announcement
At Barca you can marvel at the phenomenon that the previously extremely moody team has been playing as if liberated since coach Xavi’s departure announcement. The last defeat in La Liga came on January 27th. with a wild 3:5 against Villarreal.
Should Barca manage to win against Real Madrid in the Clasico next Sunday (April 21, 2024, 9 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de), even the championship that seems to have been decided long ago will become exciting again, as the Royal team’s lead would then shrink to five points .
Declaration of war from Luis Enrique
“I understand the euphoria. It’s better to live with euphoria than with pessimism,” says Xavi about the current mood around Barca before the duel with Paris. In Paris the situation is much more complicated, the impending departure of superstar Kylian Mbappé at the end of the season weighs heavily on the club.
Of course, Luis Enrique still has to act like an optimist, maybe he really is, but his declaration of war sounds a bit strained: “I have no doubt that we can and will turn the game around.”
